Chris-Broad revival act

Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad ushered England to a 90-run lead after the first innings of the first Ashes test against Australia following a middle-order collapse on the third day.

Rory Burns added only eight runs to his overnight score before departing for 133, one of four wickets to fall on Saturday morning as the hosts slipped from 282-4 to 300-8.

England had nevertheless moved past Australia's first-innings total, and a 65-run stand between Woakes (37 not out) and Broad for the ninth wicket added to the lead before the hosts were all out for 374 when an early tea was taken.

When Broad was out for 29 from 67 deliveries, succumbing to Pat Cummins' short-ball tactic, which Australia had not used often, Woakes was left with Jimmy Anderson for company.

England's record wicket-taker, moving gingerly after suffering a calf complaint earlier in the test, contributed three before spooning Lyon into the leg-side, ending a labored final wicket stand during which Woakes turned down a number of singles.

Morning wobble

While Anderson was able to bat, it remains unclear whether he will bowl at all in the remainder of the match as he did not take to the field for the start of Australia's second innings.

Stokes was the only batsman to show any fluency, reaching 50 before he aimed a cut at Cummins and nicked through to Tim Paine.

After more than seven hours in the middle, Burns was undone by Nathan Lyon's off spin, edging to Paine who held on instinctively. Moeen went for a five-ball duck, and Bairstow managed only eight before steering Peter Siddle to David Warner at slip.

Lyon and Cummins ended with three wickets each, while James Pattinson and Siddle took two apiece.

Australia suffered twin early jolts when they started their second innings after tea. Broad was the man again, having Warner caught by Bairstow. Cameron Bancroft was the next to depart, caught by Jos Buttler off the spin of Moeen.

Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja revived the score from 27 for 2 before the latter was sent back by Stokes to leave Australia on 75/3.

Stuart Broad (29) and Chris Woakes (37) (right) put on 65 for the ninth wicket to help lift England from 300/8 to 374 in Birmingham yesterday